Page 4 of Pride, Prejudice and Prudence

“Spent it all, did you, Lydia?” Mr Bennet queried, but it was Mary who answered.

“No, Papa, it was I who spent it all and Lydia who spent nothing,” Mary explained, and when her father looked shocked, she continued. “I wished to buy new musical pieces for the piano that I could learn. I considered only buying one piece and then buying another each week until my allowance was used up, but it did not make sense. I fully intended that all my allowance would be spent on the pieces, therefore it was false to eke out the purchases. So, I decided to buy them all at once,” she said, and Elizabeth could see her father understood the sense of her plan.

“And what of you, Miss Lydia?” her father asked, a look of interest on his face.

“I did not want a situation whereby, say, a fair came to Meryton, I would not be able to attend,” she said, her lip quavering in a suppressed weep.

“I am very proud of you, Lydia,” her father said.

“Truly,” she asked, her eyes wide, and the tears dried up.

“Yes, you showed a level of maturity and sense that is most impressive, given your young age. And, given this example of your ability to manage your allowance responsibly, when your allowance is next due, I will increase the amount to match Kitty’s.”

Chapter 6

“Netherfield Park is let,” her father informed them, waving a letter he had received before him.

“At last,” their mother added, and asked, “to whom is it let?”

“It is taken by a young man of large fortune from the north of England, and he is to take possession before Michaelmas,” their father confirmed.

“How come you by this knowledge?” their mother queried, eyeing the letter her father was still waving.

“I have had it by letter from Mr Stanley,” he said. Their mother looked at Jane, but she seemed unconcerned. The Stanleys had left Netherfield Park a couple of weeks after the incident and had never returned. Elizabeth recalled how she had heard her mother chastise their father two days after the incident at Jane's coming out. Apparently, he had encouraged the Stanleys to leave the neighbourhood, even going so far as to remind Rupert Stanley that he had achieved high points for marksmanship when at school. She knew that the Stanleys had a house in town, and Elizabeth had heard a rumour that they also had one in Ireland.

Their steward had managed the land ever since, and it was now above seven years since they had resided at Netherfield. Although the housekeeper, two house maids, and a footman had been retained to maintain the property. Lydia was now fifteen, the age at which Jane had attended that ball at Netherfield.

“Why let the house now, Papa?” Elizabeth asked.

“Mr Stanley writes that he believes his son, who must be now near forty years old, will never wish to settle at Netherfield. He says that being the case, he has not yet finalised his plans for the future of the property. Therefore, letting it seemed to be the best plan at present,” he paused and raised a hand to his chin. “I should not be surprised,” he said, “if he were to give it up entirely as soon as any eligible purchase offers.”

“It would be better for the neighbourhood that he should give up the place entirely, for then we might get a settled family there. But, perhaps, Mr Stanley does not take the convenience of the neighbourhood as his chief concern,” Mrs Bennet said.

“I think you may be mistaken, my dear,” her husband replied. “For he took the trouble to send me word, and indeed he has assured me that the young man is of good character and has come with references which can be relied upon.”

“What is his name?” his wife questioned.

“Bingley.”

“Is he married or single?”

“Oh, single, my dear, to be sure!” Mr Bennet replied, and their mother looked intrigued at this news. And Elizabeth had to own that she was fairly fascinated with the information herself. There was a limited supply of young men of interest in Meryton. Those who were of an age to be matches for Elizabeth or any of her sisters were near as brothers to them, having grown up together in such a small neighbourhood, and Elizabeth could not see herself becoming romantically attached to any of them. But what had always intrigued Elizabeth was that their parents seemed completely unbothered by the lack of matches for their daughters. After all, Longbourn was entailed away from the female line; surely they should be doing everything they could to see their daughters well settled?

A report soon circulated through Meryton that Mr Bingley was to attend the next assembly at Meryton, and he was to bring a large party from London. The ladies of Meryton had great hopes that the party would include many eligible, marriage-minded men. But when the party entered the assembly room, it consisted of just five altogether: Mr Bingley, his two sisters, the husband of the elder, and another young man.

Chapter 7

Elizabeth dressed for the assembly in her second-to-best dress – an ivory damask with embroidered flowers at the neckline and hem. Jane had suggested that mayhap they should wear their best dresses, given the likely attendance of the Netherfield party. But Elizabeth opined that there were likely to be more events during the Bingley family’s stay in Meryton, and that they would not wish to have to wear the same dress twice. Jane, agreeing that this was likely, chose her dress of a light pink hue, which was very becoming against her fair colouring. Mary’s white dress, unfortunately, did nothing to enhance her appearance; instead, it drained all colour from her face, making her look wan and unhealthy.

When they entered the assembly hall, the walls were festooned with silks in rich scarlet, and arches of foliage decorated the doorways. The musicians, featuring a local four-piece band on a raised platform, were just finishing up a cotillion. The hall itself was already near full to capacity, with both the dance floor full and every seat on the long benches appearing to be occupied.

Elizabeth thought it likely that this voluminous attendance was due to interest in seeing the Netherfield party for the first time. This was borne out by the silence that fell over the crowd when that group arrived.

A tall, handsome gentleman with dark hair led the group. A tall lady, who was only a head or so shorter than the gentleman, clutched his arm, and a second gentleman of even age, but less striking appearance, entered at her side. Both the tall lady and the second gentleman had auburn hair, which marked them as siblings. A second, rather shorter lady, wearing a cap – which marked her as a married lady– entered next on the arm of a rotund man, who was not so fine-of-face as the other two. His attendance on the second lady marked him as her husband. Therefore, it seemed clear that only the auburn-haired man, who was by no means plain, was single. However, it was later confirmed that the tall gentleman was also unattached, contrary to appearances.

The evening showed that Mr Bingley was gentlemanlike: he had a pleasant countenance and easy, unaffected manners. His sisters were fine women, with an air of decided fashion. His brother-in-law, Mr Hurst, merely looked the gentleman; but his friend Mr Darcy soon drew the attention of the room by his fine, tall person, his handsome features, and noble mien. A report was in general circulation within five minutes after his entrance, of his having ten thousand a year. The gentlemen pronounced him to be a fine figure of a man, and the ladies declared he was much handsomer than Mr Bingley.

The eldest three Bennet girls were introduced to Mr Bingley by their father, who had called on him at Mr Stanley's request. Neither Kitty nor Lydia was yet out; Kitty had just gone seventeen, and Lydia was but fifteen. Lydia had cajoled her father, without success, to allow her to attend the assembly and meet Mr Bingley, but their father would not be moved.